Friday, December 07, 2012

R.I.P. Reinhold Weege

So sorry to hear of the passing of Reinhold Weege. He wrote for BARNEY MILLER, MASH, and created NIGHT COURT. Very funny writer and lovely guy. He was only 63. Because he's been retired for some time (back then you made big money for creating a hit show) he's not as well-known as he should be. But trust me, among writers of my generation, he was greatly admired. The world of comedy is a little less funny now. Reiney will be greatly missed.

22 comments
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Oh, no. He did some great stuff on Barney Miller and in my opinion, Night Court is one of the all time best sitcoms. I've been hopping the last couple of years that the relative creative freedom offered on cable would lure him back for one more show.

A great writer - and I loved hearing his boisterous chuckle all over Night Court - I can't describe it, but it's plainly and easily heard with every big audience laugh - I think they revealed that it was his laugh on an Entertainment Tonight piece on the show back then.

A mutual friend told me that lately Reiny had made some sort of deal with a studio and was working on a play, so I guess he'd finally decided to get back in the game to some extent. A shame it's not gonna happen now. RIP

My friend works on Anger Management and he told me they're shooting two episodes a week. When I expressed my concern for the writers, my friend said that production ceased every four weeks (or something like that) for a week. Apparently this is the first big name show to use this production schedule (which is usually reserved for cheaper shows). What do you think about it, Ken?

Could it work, or is the fact they're even trying to produce a big name sitcom using this scheduling just another example of how Hollywood undervalues important things?

Johnny - that schedule is not half as strange as the infamous My Three Sons weirdness of having to film EVERY scene with Fred MacMurray for the SEASON, then going back and filling in the blanks, so to speak, when Fred goes off to do FOLLOW ME BOYS! at Disney, or perhaps riding Greyhound buses all over the place.

I have worked as a County Attorney in a real life court setting here in L.A. that while it was held during the day, very much resembled the atmosphere on Night Court. Real life can often be just as weord as funny as a sitcom, in this case.

As for Anger Management, if I remember right, once they got past the ten episode hump they renewed Sheen and Co. for another 90 episodes per their agreement. I wonder if the accelerated pace has anything to do with making sure the network is going to get what it paid for, in the event there's another misadventure or twelve on the part of the star?

@Craig Edwards -- That distinctive laugh on the sound track wasn't his; it was Chuck Weege, Reiny's father. For the first several seasons, Chuck and Georgia (Reiny's mother) came to every taping, so his "boisterous chuckle" was indeed all over Night Court. Reiny even put it in the end credits over the logo of his production company, Starry Night Productions.

Weege also worked on the BARNEY MILLER spinoff FISH. If memory severs me, his names on the episode where Dietrich comes over to the group home to give Fish a ride to work. The house next door catches on fire, delaying them a bit.

It was Tim Considine, who played eldest Mike on "My Three Sons", and who quit. But it wasn't because of the shooting schedule; it was because he wanted to write and direct more (he wrote a few episodes the season before he left. The producer didn't want him to.

The "MacMurray method" of consecutively filming all the star's scenes for the season was also used for Brian Keith on "Family Affair".

It was Tim Considine, who played eldest Mike on "My Three Sons", and who quit. But it wasn't because of the shooting schedule; it was because he wanted to write and direct more (he wrote a few episodes the season before he left. The producer didn't want him to.

The "MacMurray method" of consecutively filming all the star's scenes for the season was also used for Brian Keith on "Family Affair".

Althought it seems overlooked by a lot of people, Night Court was a well- written show. The thing that really struck me was that there always seemed to be a closing joke to wrap up the entire episode that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was like an O. Henry moment that grabbed you and and made you watch until the end of the episode.

For example, this scene is probably one of my favorite Night Court moments:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZjEx8ClvsA

This is so sad and so weird; I was JUST watching "Barney Miller", saw his name on the credits, and thought "Ah, that's right, I forgot he did 'Barney' first, then went on to 'Night Court'. Why isn't anyone playing 'Night Court' anymore?! I wonder what's become of him-- sitcoms today could use his wit." Then I came here, and read this... what a shame.

About KEN LEVINE

Named one of the BEST 25 BLOGS by TIME Magazine. Ken Levine is an Emmy winning writer/director/producer/major league baseball announcer. In a career that has spanned over 30 years Ken has worked on MASH, CHEERS, FRASIER, THE SIMPSONS, WINGS, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, BECKER, DHARMA & GREG, and has co-created three series. He and his partner wrote the feature VOLUNTEERS. Ken has also been the radio/TV play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres. and Dodger Talk. He hosts the podcast HOLLYWOOD & LEVINE

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